Pending summarization

The last Saturday of February 2026 will be recorded in meteorological annals as a day of exceptionally high temperatures, which in many regions of Central Europe more closely resemble mid-spring than the end of winter. In Germany, particularly in the southwestern part of the country, thermometers showed up to 23 degrees Celsius, prompting residents to engage in mass outdoor activity. A similar weather pattern was recorded in Berlin and Brandenburg, where sunshine and temperatures hovering around 20 degrees dominated the weather landscape. Meanwhile, Polish meteorologists from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management forecast that the weekend could bring local heat records, and 18 degrees Celsius is just the beginning of a warming wave that is set to stay with us longer. The weather situation, however, is not uniform. While Wrocław, Bydgoszcz, and Toruń enjoy almost cloudless skies, central and northeastern Poland remain under cloud cover. In Warsaw and Białystok, the sun is cleverly hidden behind clouds, and residents of Szczecin and Sopot must reckon with a grey, gloomy atmosphere. In southern Germany, particularly in Bavaria, dense fog became a problem, significantly limiting visibility in the morning and affecting the perceived temperature relative to sunnier regions of the country. Additionally, in Poland, yellow alerts related to intense snowmelt remain in effect, threatening local river surges. The trend of warming winters in Europe has been observed for several decades, which scientists link to progressive climate change. February, traditionally one of the coldest months, is increasingly bringing thermal anomalies that disrupt plant vegetation cycles.The unusual weather also has tangible health effects. The rapid temperature spike accelerated plant pollen release, as signaled by media in Germany and Austria. Experts warn that the season for allergy sufferers has started abruptly and may be exceptionally long. The problem is compounded by the fact that the winter was relatively mild and at times very dry, which in the longer perspective raises questions about the risk of agricultural drought in the coming months. In France, however, after an exceptionally rainy February, groundwater levels have improved, but meteorological services maintain orange alerts in three departments due to the risk of surges. „18 stopni to dopiero początek uderzenia ciepła, które zostanie z nami nie tylko na weekend.” (18 degrees is just the beginning of the heatwave that will stay with us not just for the weekend.) — IMGW statement In geopolitical and social terms, such high temperatures in February reduce the demand for energy resources for heating homes, which positively impacts the energy balances of EU countries, but simultaneously raises concerns among ecologists about the state of ecosystems and water resources for spring.